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Report: U.S. backing off shows of force against North Korea for fear of what Kim might do (O Blinks)
Hotair ^ | 04/04/2013 | AllahPundit

Posted on 04/04/2013 8:36:33 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

This isn't merely a failure of nerve, it's a failure of intelligence and a failure to keep operational secrets. The White House had a "playbook," agreed to by O, Hagel, and John Kerry, on how to rattle its saber at North Korea during the next crisis without rattling it so much that NK would get spooked and do something rash. E.g., first comes some B-52 flights over South Korea, then the B-2s make a cameo, then the F-22s, and so forth. Problem one: Kim's gone further in his bellicosity than U.S. analysts expected and now they’re unsure if they know where his personal red line is. Problem two: The deployment of two destroyers last weekend to the Pacific wasn’t part of the “playbook” and wasn’t supposed to be publicized. That was a bona fide strategic move, not a show of muscle-flexing designed for North Korean and international consumption. But then the news leaked and the Navy confirmed it, which turned the deployment into an inadvertent, potentially war-sparking audible.

One screw-up on top of another, so now it’s time to cool things off before someone gets nuked.

Officials said publicizing the destroyers risked ratcheting up tensions with the North more than the White House had intended. Likewise, they said, White House officials became upset because the disclosure wasn’t in keeping with the orchestrated rollout it had sought to control.

The White House has put the next steps in the playbook on hold while it assesses the North’s posture, officials say, though the administration hasn’t ruled out future shows of force. On Tuesday, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said the U.S. wanted to lower the “temperature” on the peninsula…

[W]ithin the administration, some officials voiced concern about unintended consequences of provoking North Korea [by following an escalation "playbook"]. Some of these officials questioned the faith the White House and Pentagon placed in the intelligence agencies, which have a mixed record of predicting North Korean behavior.

However, few objections were raised at the highest levels during the meetings, according to participants—unlike in other Obama administration deliberations about using military force abroad, including Libya, Northwest Africa and Syria, that have been marked by protracted debates. President Barack Obama gave the green light to proceed with the playbook, these people said.

The unspoken risk: What’s the effect on Kim’s already unpredictable behavior now that he knows the U.S. is willing to tear up its “playbook” for fear of pushing him too far? Does that encourage him to be bolder? Or is this Journal story the White House’s way of making it easier for him to climb down? The WSJ’s sources are “U.S. officials” — important ones too, if they’re privy to what went on during meetings “at the highest levels.” Could be that Obama wanted this leaked as an olive branch to NK: The U.S. will eat shinola publicly for having been a little too aggressive towards Kim, whereupon Kim can declare moral victory and step back from the brink with South Korea. It’s a way to let him save face while retreating. “Look how the Americans tremble!” We’ll see if North Korea’s propaganda mill has any fun with it today. They sure have been having fun lately.

Exit question: How long before China instigates a coup to put someone in the North Korean military who’s more predictable in charge?


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Japan; Russia
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhoasia; force; kimjongun; korea; nationalinsecurity; nknukes; northkorea; obama; obamateur; redchina; skorea; southkorea
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To: SeekAndFind

The *(undocumented) White Hut and N. Korea are allies
with Iran. In that light,
this posturing by BenGhazi Hussein Obama,
and his controller, can be more clearly seen.


41 posted on 04/04/2013 9:21:29 AM PDT by Diogenesis (De Oppresso Liber)
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To: SeekAndFind

I don’t know why we just don’t send ST-6 in and cap that chink, or just send the message that we just increased production on the MOAB.


42 posted on 04/04/2013 9:22:29 AM PDT by Rappini (Veritas vos Liberabit)
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To: muawiyah
There is perhaps a fourth possibility for the Chinese army movements:

(4) To remind Kim that he can make no move without permission from China.

43 posted on 04/04/2013 9:22:36 AM PDT by Leaning Right
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To: SeekAndFind

The little NORK bully made little Barry blink. Kids! They should not be running the world. At least until they grow up.


44 posted on 04/04/2013 9:22:47 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Dude! Where's my Bill of Rights?)
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To: SeekAndFind
Wussing out? What's the worst that could happen?

Well, yeah. But other than that...

This un-indicted felonious and treasonous a-hole needs to be removed from office. File articles of impeachment and let's get this ball rolling.

45 posted on 04/04/2013 9:22:56 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (I will not comply.)
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To: Pan_Yan

Eventually Glen will be right.


46 posted on 04/04/2013 9:23:18 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: SeekAndFind

0 caves. Didn’t take long.


47 posted on 04/04/2013 9:25:56 AM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: SeekAndFind

Kim knows he’s play poker against a gutless, unmotivated, wimp, who is as nervous as a kid, gambling w momma’s butter and egg money.


48 posted on 04/04/2013 9:27:52 AM PDT by G Larry (Which of Obama's policies do you think I'd support if he were white?)
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To: manc
another cluster F### of foreign policy yet again.

Elections have consequences - the GOP-e ran a liberal for Pres. and millions stayed home
49 posted on 04/04/2013 9:29:08 AM PDT by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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To: Stillwaters

When our national survival is placed entirely in the hands of the triumvirate of Obama, Hagel and Kerry, how can anyone in their right mind doubt our resolve or competence? Little Kim is surely quaking in his little shoes.


50 posted on 04/04/2013 9:33:00 AM PDT by lonevoice (Today I broke my personal record for most consecutive days lived)
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To: SeekAndFind

There are still a few around who think if this got ugly with NK and Communist China, this would be like a Saddam Iraq thing...

Not quite.


51 posted on 04/04/2013 9:33:23 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: Le Chien Rouge
Obama has already groveled before everyone, perhaps he should prostrate himself at the feet of their midget dictator?


52 posted on 04/04/2013 9:34:02 AM PDT by Bon mots (Abu Ghraib: 47 Times on the front page of the NY Times | Benghazi: 2 Times)
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To: Le Chien Rouge

I don’t think they had to take notes. They know our guy is a linguine spined socialist.


53 posted on 04/04/2013 9:34:08 AM PDT by b4its2late (A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: Selene

A number of cities declared themselves nuke free zones several years ago.

Not sure if Stockton CA if one, but it wouldn’t surprise me.


54 posted on 04/04/2013 9:34:31 AM PDT by IMR 4350
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To: SeekAndFind

If the Republicans don’t see bathhouse barry as a big pussy and all you have to do is stand up to him then we the people see it.


55 posted on 04/04/2013 9:34:36 AM PDT by longfellow (Bill Maher, the 21st hijacker.)
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To: Le Chien Rouge
These ding-dongs don't realize that Obozo is on their side!
56 posted on 04/04/2013 9:35:20 AM PDT by Bon mots (Abu Ghraib: 47 Times on the front page of the NY Times | Benghazi: 2 Times)
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To: SeekAndFind

Bay of Pigs.


57 posted on 04/04/2013 9:35:25 AM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: Leaning Right

You think maybe Un didn’t learn that one playing videogames for 20 years?


58 posted on 04/04/2013 9:36:11 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: SeekAndFind

Am I missing something? Sending destroyers into the area is a pretty minor move. But again, I could be missing something.


59 posted on 04/04/2013 9:36:32 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: the OlLine Rebel

nobama hates Free America. We rely on nobama (and his degenerate minions: hagel and kerry) to defend the USA. What could possibly go wrong?


60 posted on 04/04/2013 9:36:45 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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